According to an article by Argentine daily INFOBAE posted on the Aeropuertos Argetina 2000 website, the first of 32 new Boeing 737s to be leased over the next five years, has arrived. The specific aircraft has yet to be specified--all I know is it is an ex-Air France or United 737-500, and no reg. is immediately known, but I suspect it is ex-AF F-GJNY, an 11-year-old aircraft. The article attached is is Spanish, but for the sake of the majority, I shall loosely translate it:

With this new Boeing begins the replacement of the B737-200s "for new aircraft with the latest technology, with the aim of modernizing the fleet of aircraft used in domestic and regional flights", stated the airline.

Together with the 737-500, which will be immediately placed into service, so too will an MD-83 (enter service) which is in the country, which arrived from Dallas in the middle of last week and which will join the fleet of Austral, who are controlled by Aerolíneas Argentinas.

With the arrival of the Boeing 737-500, three medium and long range aircraft incorporated by Aerolíneas Argentinas/Austral in the last 25 days, to which will be added another two Boeing 737-500 whose delivery is forecast for early December.

The 737-500 is indeed slightly ahead of schedule. With the cancellation of the Lufthansa deal in back in May, this group of 737s were due to start arriving as of November, but the withdrawal of the type by AF and UA was obviously accelerated, making the aircraft available sooner.

The MD-83 that arrived from Dallas was ex-N824NK, a former Spirit machine, although the two due in November are of unknown origin--one might be ex-FlyingFinn OH-LMR, but don't quote me on that.

The A310 due next month is a former Air Jamaica machine (6Y-JAE), which was subsequently not taken-up by PIA and was finally chosen by AR instead of an older A310 belonging to Air Plus Comet (EC-HLA).

God willing, calmer waters will now lie in store for AR, and hopefully deliveries of the new aircraft will proceed sans problems...

ZXV, good news! I am glad that AR is adding more modern aircraft to its fleet. Is the A310 that is arriving soon the plane that will be used for the flights to MEX? I hope we will see AR in MEX soon.

What routes will the 735's fly? If they are going to replace 732's it looks like these have been flying with less than optimal loads; otherwise AR would be looking for 733's, right?

Do you know if AR has plans to start cooperating with other airlines (i.e., codeshare agreements, mileage accrual/redemption schemes, etc.)?

Eddie that was fast!

As far as I know, the second A310 would be mainly used on a future MEX route. Since that aircraft cannot fly MEX-EZE non-stop (MEX is high above sea level), they would fly EZE-MEX-ACA-EZE, without freedom rights between MEX and ACA. They would just load some fuel and go down home.

AR didn't make any statement regarding alliances or things like that. Currently their only partners are Marsans-owned (or partly owned) companies Air Plus and Spanair. AR codeshares on Air Plus' weekly MAD-EZE-MAD service, operated with a former-AR 742. Aerolíneas Plus members can earn miles on all Spanair and Air Plus flights.

The second A310 is indeed destined to resume services to Mexico, but I can't give you a date as to when that will be. Once the aircraft arrives, I'll have an idea.

The 737-500s will undoubtedly start with routes such as Bariloche, Córdoba, Salta, from where AR plans to open hubs, basing two aircraft at each, but I think they will wait until more arrive.

With regards to the 737-300s, an unspecified number are on order. I'm surprised none are due in the immediate future, as AF's have been out of service some time. I'd presume the -500s were instantly available as they were flying up to or well into the European summer, and therefore hadn't been mothballed for storage.

AR has a total of 15 737-500s on firm order--7 from AF, 8 from UA--for delivery over the next 12-14 months. The exact number of -300s/-500s has yet to be specified, but the total will amount to 32-45 aircraft (there are about 30 B737-200s to replace).

AR/AU's MD-80 fleet is set to grow to 14 aircraft by years' end--2 -81s, 7 -83s and 5 -88s.

As for codeshare agreements/mileage schemes, no developments on that front, I'm afraid. For now it's mostly just Air Plus Comet, Spanair and TAM Mercosur.

I think "maybe" would be the most honest thing to say. If there will be only 3 B737-500s by the end of the year, then I'd say they won't be permanently assigned to any particular destinations, which would probably increase your chances of seeing one. Personally, I think GRU will start receiving more MD-80 services, but FLN might start seeing the 737-500 this summer, i.e. January/February/March.

Stupid question: What is Salta such an apparent strategic location? I haven't checked on the flights from Salta of late, but I remember a while back there were flights from Salta to Bolivia (or was it Peru?), and plans for flights to North Chile. What kind of traffic do these routes serve?

Seems that Salta is more prioritized than even ROS, and not far behind MDZ. Being kind of ignorant on Salta I was just curious.

Nice about the 737.5... It is refreshing to see things AHEAD of schedule as supposed to fashionably late!

With this new Boeing begins the replacement of the B737-200s "for new aircraft with the latest technology, with the aim of modernizing the fleet of aircraft used in domestic and regional flights", stated the airline."

Anyone else find that statement kind of humorous? I mean, I know AR aren't the most financially secure airline and I know that the 735 is a great improvement over the 732, but considering they're used 737s I'd hardly say they're "new aircraft with the latest technology".

1st Aerolineas Argentinas B737-500 already has a registration assigned: It is LV-AYE. And new Austral MD-83 is LV-AYD.

Aerolineas Argentinas will fly B735 mainly to Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Santiago de Chile from Ezeiza. And the next A310-300 is planned for the route EZE-LIM-MEX and EZE-BOG, while CCS will see an MD88 via VVI in Bolivia.

First, I want to welcome you Marambio to airliners.net. I am glad that you have joined and are posting already since now we will have more insights by friends from Argentina. I really look forward to reading your postings in the different threads that pertain to Latin American aviation, and hope that you will enjoy reading the postings and participating in the discussions as much as I have. So, again, welcome to the forums!!!

With respect to AR's operations to MEX, I must now ask what gives with respect to LIM? I recall talking many times with LVZXV that the plan is for AR to fly to MEX and stop in ACA just for fuel on the way back since the A310 is not capable of flying non-stop southbound because of MEX' altitude as Marambio explained. But now that Argentina has written "EZE-LIM-MEX" in his posting, I wonder if there has been a change of plans. If such is the case, I would further ask if AR is getting (or has already) 5th freedom rights to fly pax between LIM and MEX and, if so, if this decision is based on the judicial resolution from a court in Peru preventing LP from continuing its operations. Just as a side note, MEX-LIM has become a very contested market since LP started flying it; earlier, AM operated 752's 4x weekly and TA operated A319's 3x weekly (both carriers codeshared)... anyhow, since LP entered the market with 4 weekly 767 flights, fares have decreased and AM has added a fifth weekly flight.

As to the fleet renovation and expansion, I am really glad that AR is growing. I wish that substituting the older aircraft with newer ones will help them be more efficient and profitable. I also hope that they will open new routes... as the main carrier of South America's largest Spanish-speaking economy, they ought to have a good coverage of the region. The 735's seem to me like a good way to open thin routes and, eventually, bigger birds can be rotated to those routes that prove successful. As for AR's flights with the 735, I would imagine that SCL, GRU and GIG are not necessarily the best places to deploy them... since these routes have a lot of demand, I would think AR should send at least Mad Dogs and 733's to these three specific cities instead.

With regards to Salta, LB operates a twice weekly VVI-SLA-COR-SLA-VVI service, and has done so since about 1995/6. LAN have also recently added Salta to their network. SLA was also where Dinar were headquartered, and the salteños were very proud of their airline throughout the '90s until it went bust in 2002. Salta is not a particularly large province people-wise, with maybe 900,000 of whom 200,000 live in the provincial capital, but its significance is largely due to a booming tourism, a middle-class recovering swiftly from the crisis, and being the gateway to the northwest, particularly JUJ and TUC.

LH423:

Marketing. Go to Ariana Afghan's website, and you'll see similar claims made about their 727-200s. It's to fool the general public.

$$$$$$$. Quite simple, as AR's VP told me in his own words, "now is not the time". AR's balance is not healthy enough to shop around for new Airbuses or 737-NGs, so in the end, they are being resourceful, buying as much as they can for as little as possible, and well, 10-12 year-old 737-500s aren't so bad, are they?
Besides, it is a seismic shift for AR; in almost 35 years of 737 operations, this is the first time they have ever acquired a 737 that's not a -200, which for most of us is welcome news..

First, I want to welcome you Marambio to airliners.net. I am glad that you have joined and are posting already since now we will have more insights by friends from Argentina. I really look forward to reading your postings in the different threads that pertain to Latin American aviation, and hope that you will enjoy reading the postings and participating in the discussions as much as I have. So, again, welcome to the forums!!!

Muchísimas gracias, Eddie!

And the next A310-300 is planned for the route EZE-LIM-MEX and EZE-BOG, while CCS will see an MD88 via VVI in Bolivia.

It is the first time I hear of EZE-LIM-MEX, though I find it feasable. As far as I know, EZE-LIM is not doing great. Continuing the flight to MEX seems to be a good option, better than ACA. That, of course, if AR gets 5th freedom rights on LIM-MEX. I sometimes wonder if 767 wouldn't be great for AR -- they could use it in North American routes (MEX, LAX), as a replacement in European flights (if it were an ER) and also in cashcow routes during the high season (USH).

What surprises me is that BOG has been doing so well that now they want it to be direct, without the CCS stop.

With regards to Salta, LB operates a twice weekly VVI-SLA-COR-SLA-VVI service, and has done so since about 1995/6

That is correct. A cousin of mine up in JUJ flew LB from SLA to VVI, later connecting to LPB. He said both flights were good, service was correct and all flights arrived on time. Thumbs up for Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano!

Salta is not a particularly large province people-wise, with maybe 900,000 of whom 200,000 live in the provincial capital

Small correction: Salta city has 500.000 inhabitants, while the province counts 1 million people.

AR considered the 767-300 in 1993/94 to bridge the massive gap between the MD-88 and 747-200 left by the outgoing 707s. In the end, the economics worked better for the A310-300, of which they operated 3 on the French-register from 1994-2000. You are right, the 767 would make a great cash cow for AR, but I presume they restarted A310 operations due to familiarity and experience on the type, but notice how no other South American carriers continue to operate them. Especially if AR plans to go almost all Boeing, the 767 would do away with the need for the A310s, although replacing the A340s won't be so easy as they are ultra-long range (specially modified if I recall to -200X standard).

That is correct. A cousin of mine up in JUJ flew LB from SLA to VVI, later connecting to LPB. He said both flights were good, service was correct and all flights arrived on time. Thumbs up for Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano!

¿Sos jujeño? LB are really excellent, though they don't receive the publicity they deserve. They are more an airline you will appreciate if you actually fly on them than if people tell you about. Had a great ride on them from VVI-SLA last year on a 737-300 in mint condition. They put many LatAm carriers to shame.

Small correction: Salta city has 500.000 inhabitants, while the province counts 1 million people.

¿Tanto? The city really doesn't feel that big, but then again, neither would you imagine that S.M. de Tucumán is home to 2-3 million, which it is.

Cmon, guys, lets not get overly done with the paranoia stuff. There's not much basis on saying INDEC isn't accurate. Tucumán does not have 2-3 million! If that's so then it's larger than Porto Alegre, I really doubt that! (unless you're thinking illegals, but still that # is too high) The 2001 census said the province had 1,338,523 inhabitants. Salta had 1,079,051 people, and 5th fastest growing population in the country.

That's why I was puzzled about Salta seemingly overtaking Tucumán, the latter a bigger city. But it makes sense since Salta is between Jujuy and Tucumán, so it's centrally located. Plus the city of Salta is more tourist made than Tucumán, plus the Train to the Clouds... It really blows that Dinar went. It was really exciting to see Salta and Cordoba as new 'hubs'.

I have a dream of seeing Bariloche as the 'hub' of Patagonia, both for Argentina and Chile! Bariloche-Comodoro, Bariloche-Rio Grande, Bariloche-Puerto Montt, Bariloche-Punta Arenas, Bariloche-Mendoza, Bariloche-Base Marambio

Plus Salta as the hub of the Northwest, and Cordoba as the new AEP. I just pray that things get better from here and in five years we'll see these things happen.

Actually Gte, there's a lot of international tourism to Ushuaia, people like saying they were in the southernmost city in the world, take a picture at the signpost that points the distance to all the cities in the world, etc. And many Argentines also go there.

These tourists tend to have medium to reasonably high incomes, plus the fact air is the only real fast way to get to USH... AR probably can even afford a little cushion on the fares! That's why it's a good rainbow pot.

My internet was not shut down, the internet has shut me down

25 Marambio
: I have a dream of seeing Bariloche as the 'hub' of Patagonia, both for Argentina and Chile! Bariloche-Comodoro, Bariloche-Rio Grande, Bariloche-Puerto